Salvaging fuel vapor



April 1937- w. J. SCHLICHT, JR

SALVAGING FUEL VAPOR Original Filed July 6, 1933 2 Sheet-Sheet l April 1937. w. J. SCHLICHT. JR

SALVAGING FUEL VAPOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 6, 1933 awuc wtoc Gamma/5 MW) w 5 J m Patented Apr. 13, 1937 sr orrlcs SALVAGING FUEL VAPOR William J. Schlicht, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 6, 1933, Serial No. 679,262 Renewed December 10, 1936 4 Claims.

This invention relates to means and methods whereby gasoline vapors or other fuel vapors from a storage tank, usually discharged into the atmosphere, may be condensed and the con- 5 densate used rather than wasted.

It is particularly aimed to provide a trap, in connection with the storage tank, containing a calcium chloride solution into which the vapors are supplied, the supply means having a vacuum valve therein.

It is also aimed to provide a means whereby the danger of explosion from accumulation of gas in the storage tank is overcome.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings, illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:-

20 Figure 1 is a view primarily in elevation and in diagram showing my improvement;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the condenser, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view 25 through the vacuum valve, taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, I designates a storage tank for gasoline or other volatile fuel which is usually disposed below the 30 surface of the ground II. The fuel is supplied to the storage tank I0 through a pipe I2 and is withdrawn from the storage tank I0 through a pipe I3, usually through themedium of a pump.

The gases necessarily arising from the fuel in the tank It escape through a pipe I4, which in ordinary practice is a vent and runs to the atmosphere. However, in accordance with my invention, pipe I4 is continued and leads into a. condenser tank I5. Within condenser tank I5, 40 the pipe I4 is connected to a trap I5 and from the latter an S-shaped pipe I6 leads, having its discharge end at I1 and thus below a line or level I8, up to which the tank I5 is adapted to be filled with a water solution of calcium chlo- 45 ride having a freezing point of '70 degrees below zero.

The pipe I4 has a vacuum valve I9 connected therein. Such valve embodies an attaching plug 20 which is screwed into the pipe I4, a hood 2|,

5O perforated as at 22, being screw-threaded at 23 onto the plug 20. As best shown in Figure 3,

a valve 24 normally closes the plug 20 through the medium of an expansive coil spring 25 surrounding a stem 26 on the valve and abutting a 55 disk 21 at one end, and a nut 26 on the stem at the other end. The disk 21 is in the nature of a spider and, rests on a shoulder 28 within the plug 20.

The condensed or reclaimed gasoline or other fuel may be withdrawn from the tank I5 when desired, through a valve connection at 29. A vent pipe 30 extends from the top of the tank I5.

It will be realized that the vacuum valve I9 is arranged at the highest point in the system and that the tank I5 may be located below the surface of the ground as within a pit 3|.

Normally the valve member 24 is closed. The gases arising in the tank I0 pass therefrom through the pipe I4, trap I5, pipe I6 .and are liberated at I! in the calcium chloride solution within the tank 2. This creates a back pressure which condenses fumes and prevents them from escaping from the storage tank. Any pressure which accumulates at any time in the tank I5 will be released through the vent 3D.

Said vacuum valve 24 will open on one-quarter pound back suction which will give the storage tank It) a chance to obtain air and also prevent any possible chance of the tank to suck the calcium chloride from the tank I5. The vacuum valve 24 of course will open when the attendant operates a pump to obtain the gasoline or fuel through the pipe I3. When the tank III has enough air, the said valve 24 will close preventing the gases from escaping.

When a battery of tanks III are connected together, it will be realized that each pipe I4 thereof will have its individual vacuum valve means I9 although all may be connected to a single trap I5 or a single condenser I 5.

I find in use that the invention saves practically all of the gasoline fumes which are now lost and it avoids the danger of gas being blown out of open vents of, the storage tank or causing explosions within the storage tank.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:-

1. In combination with .a fuel storage tank and a pipe through which vapor passes therefrom, a valve in said pipe to open through the action of the vacuum therein, a tank to which said pipe leads, a solution of calcium chloride in the last mentioned tank into which gases are liberated to create a back pressure to condense fumes to prevent their escape from the storage tank.

2. In combination with a fuel storage tank and a pipe through which vapor passes therefrom, a valve in said pipe to open through the action of the vacuum therein, a tank to which said pipe leads, a calcium chloride solution having a freezing point of seventy degrees below zero in the last mentioned tank into which gases are 5 liberated to create a back pressure to condense fumes to prevent their escape from the storage tank, and a vent leading from the second mentioned tank.

3. In combination with a fuel storage tank and 0 a pipe through which vapor passes therefrom, a valve in said pipe to open through the action of the vacuum therein, a tank to which said pipe leads, a solution of calcium chloride in the last mentioned tank into which gases are liberated to create a back pressure to condense fumes to prevent their escape from the storage tank, and a vent leading from the second mentioned tank, said valve being adapted to open upon substan tially one-fourth pound suction.

4. A device of the class described having a tank adapted to contain a solution of calcium chloride, a pipe extending into the tank arranged to discharge below the level of the calcium chloride solution, a. vent leading from the tank, and a pipe leading from the tank adapted for connection with the vent of a fuel tank, and a vacuum valve in said last mentioned pipe.

WILLIAM J. SCI-ILICHT, JR. 

